Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-08
THE NEW PEHITEHTllRf.
When are the Territorial
Prisoners to be Re
moVedi
Reyi v Of the kg slstIoa TadFr NhitA
Ihs Psnileatis n has Btsn Built
AMI oFgan ed
Ore Of Governor SquIre's Last
O6Tclai Acts-The New Sup
eFInsendanr - Governor
Sempie's InteFfeF-
ance.

serial pFiso1efs nave pe60 counmoo =
Ssatco in q prison prepared and main
tanned not By the Territory. bat By pEi-
vase citix M. These men under con-
tract Is provided by Law have kept and
supported ths prisoners al . cost OF
seventy cents q day. The se-callsd
prison as Seatco il, 70 say the least
very primitive affair." and although at
the time Of lie construction IL served
its purpose fairly well, yet for some
time past the growing demands upon 1t
have taxed its capacity to the utmost.
Indeed it has leng bean evident that
the building, BY reason Of its limited
capacity and its primitive arrange
ments, vas wholly unsuited TO The re-
quirements Of penal iastica. IL has
been the practice for hundred OF more
prisoners of all sorta, ages and con-
disions to mingie freely In one large room
for hours az q time, and to indulge IN
conversation aud noisy demonstrations.
The dignity of the Territory and the
interests of good order and rrison dis
cipline, therefore, made il the impeTa-
tive daty OF the government 10 take
measures TO inau0urate an entirely diff
fsrent SYSTEM Of management Of the
csnvicts regardless Of the question OF
cost.
The Legislative Assembly of 1884
took the initiative in the matter by pre-
vidiHQ for the collection OF tax OF one
quarter mill TO create fund toward the
erection Of q new penitentiary and fer
the appointment OF a Commission to
select suitable site. This Commission
consisted of Hon. B. L. S6arpstein, OF
Walla Walla, Colonel Henry Landes, OF
| Port Townsend, aad s. w. Brown, Esq /,
Of Vancouver. Under the tax provided
for the sum of about go 900 has been
paid into the Territorial treasury. The
Assembly Of 1856 appropriated an ad-
ditieaal SUM OF $4,000. and designated
Walla WaIla a. the place where the pen
| isentiary should be located, q suitable
site having been selected there and
recommended by the Commissioners.
The funds for the purchase Of the site
selected we're furnished by the city and
county of WaIls Walla, and the rice
paid was $1,000. Il was further provided
In the Law Of 1856 that board Of
three Commissioners should be ap
pointed by the Governor to euperintebd
the ersstion OF the penItentiary, and
that 1t should be the duty of the Gov
ernor, upon notice from tbs Commits
sioners that the penitsntiary was ready
/ for oocupaneJ, to cause the prisoners TO
be removed there from SeatcO, and, in
case the removal took place prior TO the
session of the next Assembly, to PIE
scribe the necessary rules and appoint
| the necessary officers for sne govern
a cut and discipline of the prison. Con-
siderable embarrassment was caused,
however. fron the neglect of the LeRisla-
| ture TO make any appropriation for maiE-
tanning and guarding the prisoners after
their removal, although 1t was provided
that the expense of the removal should
be paid cot Of the general fund. The
| Building Commissioners appointed IN
der the Law were Gen. M. NJ. Bayue of
Spokane Falls, Hon. .. q. Waite of
DAYTON and II. z. johnson Of Walla
| Waila.
As soon as Governor Squire received
notice from the BuiIdIng Commissioner
that the prison was read for occupancy
he visited Walla Walia, aud after suR-
costing a few Improvements and adai
lions which emed TO him necessary,
which suggestions we're acted upon, and
satisfying himself that everything was
in condition, be appointed T. w. Paine
of WAlla Walla superintendent and
made an Arrangement With several bust
ness uaen of WAlia Malla for deffaying
| the expenses not provided for By Law.
| By this arrangement all the expenses OF
guarding and maintaining tbs prison.
ers after their arrival AZ Malla Walla
we're to be met for the time being, with
the dis inet understanding, however,
that no claim therefor was 70 bs made
excest in the regular way. That Is, all
claims were to be approved by the 81
perintendent aud passed through the
Office of the Territorial Auditor TO be
IeQislated upon by the next Assembly.
Tbie arrangement WAS entered into and
Mr.. Paine was appointed Supeflntend
eut On March I9.h, 1887. Psior TO this
time many recommendations had been
received by Governor Squire urging
the appointment Of various persons as
auards aud officers of the Institution.
Governor Squire, hCwevsrs took the
matter into his own hands and after
consultation with many prominent mer
made the appointments, leaving the
question Of politics entirely aside. and
acting in the selection Of men solely with
a view to their fitness for the position,
and with the determination TO obtain
the greatest possible efficiency IN the
management OF she new penltentiaEy.
The appointments N de secured she
Immediate approval of sll well inf0rmtd
persons Of both politioal parties. and
tHe fairness shewn IN the allotment OF
the positions has been 80 evldelt that
not a breath of criticism has been
heard from any quarter. Toe Board OF
inspectors IL an posed Of Elk eifiz ms q
the highest standing IN she county OF
Walla WAlla.
The q svernor, as be vas required TO
do By laW, prepares a carefully diResied
list OF rules aud officially certified she
same to the Superintendent Ihe ofn
Q re we're daly sworn into ofhee, and
zoe bids for snppiles we're received ana |
acted upon by tae SupeFtuteadent. Al
loimebts BY contract we're made on |
April sd. Ga the day OF April
Governor Squire issued the ofncial Or
der. whieh Was published at the time
for she removal Of the prisoners from
Seafeo, al soon after gave due notice
g. tie e1ntrassaFs at SeAtgO OF tue ter
mi alton Of she eystrscS whlen had
neea N sde Jaiy /. 1896. ard which was
BY It's terms subject 70 terniz afion upon
T q snktls nssics. Superintendent
Pa ne arranged wiIh the Railroad esm-
panIss for tne transfer Of the prisoners
- accordance with toe order OF GoEeE-
n y squ re, and sac removal vas to have
/ ken plaes on May 81. Governor
~ m ole. howeues. VIE entefsd apon
! he Duties Of bis sition On April 80,
sIx Al 10 wFits to tas Superintendent
directing him 30 s1sneDd the execution
D the order OF his predecessor antli
.Fther notice. There ths matter Fesat d.
.ad although everything a. toe nss
IL IN com. tete readiness tor
lAe reee ptiou Of the prisoners. and A.
.honeh tne expense OF maintaining aAd
9 arlnR for 81 a would Dc about one
nalf of what IL 10 ~ Seatoo, still tie